2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build

[40x40]

A couple of rabbit holes here.
* Could just be normal
* There is some discussion about a mystery 3/4" spacer...???
* Fluid level thing. I checked and added a bit...
* I may have to just try it for a while and see what happens

I'm not letting any grass grow under my feet here. Already researching doing a Hemi swap myself. Suppose the SC is fine and only makes the "marbles in a tumbler" sound. Can I live with that? Can I trust driving across the country without fear of it grenading in the middle of Nebraska on I-80? That's really where I am on this. Had I known it would make this unusual sound, I would not have gone this route. Everything else I have done on this JT, including purchasing an AEV vs a stocker to start with, is way over the top. I am not going to settle for something that is questionable.
But is it questionable? Is it just perception amplification going on in my mind? I have even delayed the test drive because of overthinking this! Maybe it's the soldier in me. I like to know what I am facing, and this sound just presents as a mystery that not many talk about.
I guess I'll just have to get up off my butt and give it a try...

first and foremost, thank you for choosing a career in the military. i can only imagine that as an officer and aviator the endless logic/flowchart decision making processes firing off in your head must be tiresome, however, very life saving. as a long time observer of your work, may i be as so bold to throw out some unsolicited advice? what is the worst that could happen? after you've dented the floor board because you've mashed the skinny pedal so far into it, the SC grenades. ok, so you coast to the side of the highway. you are a popular guy on the forum so do a "go fund me" type thing to cover the tow bill. solves that problem. it appears you have a good relationship with the SC manufacturer. any reason to think they would leave you hanging? as someone who is closer to turning 100 than 30 this chapter of life on God's green earth does come to an end. perspective. you could die in your favorite recliner while watching "little house on the prairie" from an undiagnosed brain aneurysm. so, hop in your ride, point it straight and tell yourself "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do".

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[Flyin6]

first and foremost, thank you for choosing a career in the military. i can only imagine that as an officer and aviator the endless logic/flowchart decision making processes firing off in your head must be tiresome, however, very life saving. as a long time observer of your work, may i be as so bold to throw out some unsolicited advice? what is the worst that could happen? after you've dented the floor board because you've mashed the skinny pedal so far into it, the SC grenades. ok, so you coast to the side of the highway. you are a popular guy on the forum so do a "go fund me" type thing to cover the tow bill. solves that problem. it appears you have a good relationship with the SC manufacturer. any reason to think they would leave you hanging? as someone who is closer to turning 100 than 30 this chapter of life on God's green earth does come to an end. perspective. you could die in your favorite recliner while watching "little house on the prairie" from an undiagnosed brain aneurysm. so, hop in your ride, point it straight and tell yourself "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do".

I love it!
How'd you know I watch "Little House on the Prairie"? (Just kiddin', I don't)
War and Remembrance at the moment...
I've done well, so the GoFundMe is unnecessary. ;-)
You are correct, I do have an aviator's mind. Everything is a calculation or a critical decision. Since I survived all those years turning jet gas into noise, all that mental gymnastics has apparently helped me graduate to a civilian "life after velcro," but it has left its mark.
You are right, of course, and I will just go for it and let it rip. Seems I did that in a few airplanes and helicopters along the way...

 

[Flyin6]

I can't believe what just happened.

I got a call from my local Jeep/off-road shop, High Lift in Cincinnati, offering me a deal on a 6.4 Hemi swap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Full factory-like install of the same 6.4 and transmission that AMW uses, plus the 392 hood, hydro flow hood, and air cleaner.

I didn't decline; I accepted their offer. I am now scheduled to drop off my JT on 4 May for its new motor and trans!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://highliftoffroad.com/

 

[MSFTMatt]

Dude that’s crazy! All that work on your super charger and now getting a new motor! Maybe you can start a side hustle doing super charger installs now that you are intimate with them

 

[Zachanadandy]

I can't believe what just happened.

I got a call from my local Jeep/off-road shop, High Lift in Cincinnati, offering me a deal on a 6.4 Hemi swap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Full factory-like install of the same 6.4 and transmission that AMW uses, plus the 392 hood, hydro flow hood, and air cleaner.

I didn't decline; I accepted their offer. I am now scheduled to drop off my JT on 4 May for its new motor and trans!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://highliftoffroad.com/

Seems like the perfect opportunity to test that supercharger. If it blows up and throws metal down the intake Ripp can pay for a chunk of the 392 swap.

 

[Jteakus]

You remind me of me.
I finally learned to skip the baby steps and go straight to the final build. It is cheaper and less labor intensive. There is no 12-step program. Best of luck to you sir!

 

[Flyin6]

Dude that’s crazy! All that work on your super charger and now getting a new motor! Maybe you can start a side hustle doing super charger installs now that you are intimate with them

That's a big No on doing SC installs. ;-)
That's a ton of work, and I am so detail-oriented, it would take me a month (Like it did with mine!)

 

[Flyin6]

Seems like the perfect opportunity to test that supercharger. If it blows up and throws metal down the intake Ripp can pay for a chunk of the 392 swap.

Well, that's an idea, but I don't roll that way. Ripp sold it to me and supported me in an honest and upright manner.
But, seems I have an unused supercharger kit for sale in about two weeks or less ;-)

 

[Zachanadandy]

Well, that's an idea, but I don't roll that way. Ripp sold it to me and supported me in an honest and upright manner.
But, seems I have an unused supercharger kit for sale in about two weeks or less ;-)

I'm not saying go redline it and try to blow it up. You've tried 2 of their superchargers and still feel the sound isn't right. At that point I'd at least send it a few times. Maybe it quiets down, maybe it blows up because there's something fundamentally wrong with what they are selling. I'd call it research at that point. Being they advertise more power than a 5.7L I'd want to know what hard use of a supercharged 3.6L feels like vs the 392 and you're in the perfect position to find out in my opinion. I'm not one to try and scam anyone, but you put a shit ton of work into a quality install of their product and deserve the payoff. Your evoke swap just eliminates the worry.

 

[Flyin6]

You remind me of me.
I finally learned to skip the baby steps and go straight to the final build. It is cheaper and less labor intensive. There is no 12-step program. Best of luck to you sir!

I can't speak for you, but with regard to what just happened, Yep, I've got no sense.

These guys doing the swap actually build for Stelantis! I'll share more on this through the next (who knows how many) pages of posts. If it is the kit I talked to them about in December, there are going to be things that are more-bueno than the AMW swaps. I'll wait until the appropriate time to disclose.

I may spend a lot of money "experimenting" with Jeep stuff (4+ lift kits, same Jeep), but I always seem to push for the best. I was not happy with the sound the SC makes, and that spoiled it all for me. Since I purchased the Jeep, I have wanted a Hemi. Now that dream is going to be realized!!!

 

[Flyin6]

I'm not saying go redline it and try to blow it up. You've tried 2 of their superchargers and still feel the sound isn't right. At that point I'd at least send it a few times. Maybe it quiets down, maybe it blows up because there's something fundamentally wrong with what they are selling. I'd call it research at that point. Being they advertise more power than a 5.7L I'd want to know what hard use of a supercharged 3.6L feels like vs the 392 and you're in the perfect position to find out in my opinion. I'm not one to try and scam anyone, but you put a shit ton of work into a quality install of their product and deserve the payoff. Your evoke swap just eliminates the worry.

Understand completely, and you raise a great point
I am in a great position to comment on the power differences between stock, to supercharged, to Hemi 6.4.
Having said that, I want to be able to resell a good-quality, low-mileage engine and a complete SC system.
Engine has 19,000-ish, SC zero miles-ish

 

[Zachanadandy]

Understand completely, and you raise a great point
I am in a great position to comment on the power differences between stock, to supercharged, to Hemi 6.4.
Having said that, I want to be able to resell a good-quality, low-mileage engine and a complete SC system.
Engine has 19,000-ish, SC zero miles-ish

I don't think 50 miles of testing it out changes the value in the slightest. Granted you might be saving yourself from potential disappointment if the power/ performance ends up comparable as the hemi swap is significantly more expensive. I personally couldn't do all the work you did and at least not know the difference beyond a shadow of a doubt. Once you finished the sc install I don't know how your waited 5 minutes to not see how it drives.

 

[Flyin6]

I don't think 50 miles of testing it out changes the value in the slightest. Granted you might be saving yourself from potential disappointment if the power/ performance ends up comparable as the hemi swap is significantly more expensive. I personally couldn't do all the work you did and at least not know the difference beyond a shadow of a doubt. Once you finished the sc install I don't know how your waited 5 minutes to not see how it drives.

I was like you in many ways.
I guess I have some well-developed patience, tendered by years (decades) of military service, raising girls and boys, tending a farm, and a ton of other stuff.
To put this Jeep thing in its proper place, I place it as a lower priority. But in this case a new knee, family stuff bad weather and what has seemed like the tribulation, the thing has just sat there. Example: For the past four days it has been parked in by family guests!
I'll get to it very soon and get to know it much better.
Thanks for the interest...

 

[Flyin6]

So, getting into the configuration of this Hemi swap that is less than two weeks away, here is what I have locked in/decided on so far:
New 6.4 Hemi engine, the 485-505 HP version
ZF-8HP75
Hydro guide hood/air box

Aside from that, I have other considerations/choices to make.
First up is the final drive ratio. I currently have 3.6 Pentastar-friendly Yukon Gear 5.13 cogs. I may decide to swap the ratios while the whole thing is torn down.
I plan to stay somewhere in the 37"-39" tire range, most probably settling on 38". With that in mind and considering a medium-weight vehicle that gets heavier during adventures, a 4.88 would make sense, but with nearly 500 ft/lbs on tap, 4.56 is also a possibility.
Not sure what else may come up. Possibly driveshafts (I already have an Adams front shaft), and most likely front coil springs.
Like I mentioned earlier, this swap is new and better than what is offered by some others. For example, they had mentioned headers and a hand-built 3.5" exhaust system. They also mentioned OEM-style hydro-cushion motor mounts, like the ones we already have.
More on this. I am not sure about the last couple of items; I'm recalling from the December conversation when they were still configuring the kit.

 

[Zachanadandy]

So, getting into the configuration of this Hemi swap that is less than two weeks away, here is what I have locked in/decided on so far:
New 6.4 Hemi engine, the 485-505 HP version
ZF-8HP75
Hydro guide hood/air box

Aside from that, I have other considerations/choices to make.
First up is the final drive ratio. I currently have 3.6 Pentastar-friendly Yukon Gear 5.13 cogs. I may decide to swap the ratios while the whole thing is torn down.
I plan to stay somewhere in the 37"-39" tire range, most probably settling on 38". With that in mind and considering a medium-weight vehicle that gets heavier during adventures, a 4.88 would make sense, but with nearly 500 ft/lbs on tap, 4.56 is also a possibility.
Not sure what else may come up. Possibly driveshafts (I already have an Adams front shaft), and most likely front coil springs.
Like I mentioned earlier, this swap is new and better than what is offered by some others. For example, they had mentioned headers and a hand-built 3.5" exhaust system. They also mentioned OEM-style hydro-cushion motor mounts, like the ones we already have.
More on this. I am not sure about the last couple of items; I'm recalling from the December conversation when they were still configuring the kit.

Not that I'd go to 5.13s if I had a 392, but the diffrence between them and the 4.88s is negligible. I'd run it as is. I doubt it will be revving too high at freeway speed with the double over drive. Regears are too expensive not to at least try it out and see if it feels over geared so much as to be worth the money.

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